Padded ironing and pressing appliance



Sept. 12, 1933. E. o. DAYTON 1,926,803

PADDED IRONING AND PRESSING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 7, 1931 Juventm;

Q Ed and .,D Z072,

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 PADDED IRONING AND PRESSING APPLIANCE Edmond 0.Dayton, Hillsdale, N. 1. Application November '2', 1931. Serial No.573,559

I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for ironing or pressing purposes,and pertains more particularly to improvements in the backing for thesurface which supports or presses the cloth against the heated element,as on the ironing rolls and press bucks.

Ironing implies the coincident application of heat and substantialpressure to a moist article with vaporization of water, smoothing anddrying. The problem is to get rid promptly and continuously of the steamproduced by the heat without reduction of efficiency, that is to say, toprovide for the discharge of the steam as effectively at the end of aperiod of use on wet or damp cloth as at the beginning.

The ordinary fibrous backing for the cloth-supporting surface of ironingmachines is designed to be readily absorbent of moisture and isfrequently made somewhat open, loosely woven, shaggy, or is constructedof relatively large cotton strands or rovings providing crevices or openspaces to facilitate that action. This is a step in the right direction,but it fails to produce continuous ventilation, on which, as I havefound, depends uniformity of the performance of the machine throughoutthe whole of the run, the quality of the work, and the speed andsustained efiiciency of the ironing at every stage of it. Withoutadequate ventilation, not only at the beginning but continuouslythroughout the run, there is a constantly augmented, or renewed,accumulation of water in the body of the backing which, if permitted,subjects the usual fibrous backing to the progressive densifioation ofthe mass and loss of efliciency due to continuous soaking of the fibersof the mass under heat and pressure. The backing thus becomes more andmore compressed at each ironing operation and incapable of the full andimmediate expulsion of the steam at each stage of the ironing process.

Failure to get'rid of the steam as produced,

condensation of steam and consequent accumulapable of further moistureabsorption and therefore subject to scorching, charrlng and disinte-(Cl. 68-9) J gration. Efiiciency of the. machine and good quality of thework require that the machine be stopped before this condition isreached and the exhausted material removed and replaced with new, but asthe breaking up and removal of the dried or charred layer which sticksto the roll or other supporting surface is a disagreeable job, it isfrequently postponed for considerable periods to the further detrimentof the amount and quality of the output, both of which for reasonsstated tend to fall as the run continues, Waste of time, labor andexpense thus accompany evidences of inefilciency such as the appearanceof wet or rough-dried spots necessitating running articles through therolls a second time, the breakage of buttons, flattening ofembroideries, etc. Where the ventilation is not continuous, the back ingis not held closely to the work throughout the entire run owing to thethinning of the backing and the reduction of such elasticity as it has,and as this is the expected action of the old fibrous backing, it iscustomary to overpad, i. e. to use an'unduly thick backing at the start,which in fiat work machines reduces the area of ironing contact and isthus objectionable, and which does not dispense with the irksomenecessity, under penalty of inferior work, of readjustment of the rollsfrom time to time, as the run proceeds, to offset the thinning efiect.

In order to take care of the steam produced by the heat, I avoid apredominantly fibrous backing and provide instead in the body of mybacking a widely extended network of intercommunicating passages openingto the active or clothsupporting side and readily and immediatelyaccessible to. all parts of the surface being ironed, so as to receivethe steam, the walls of the passages being elastic and sufiiciently firmor pressure-resistant to support yieldingly but adequately the pressureof the ironing operation and to expand sharply on release of ironingpressure to restore the network of passages to its original state andthe backing to substantially its original volume after each ironingoperation in readiness for the next. In the preferred form of myinvention the passages are cellular, by which I mean that they includeconnected cell portions, have cell-like parts, or are of a generallytubular character, and I regard this as an aid to effective ventilation.

In my backing, therefore, by virtue of continuous ventilation the steamis dispersed as such before it can condense in objectionable amounts,water does not accumulate, the passages are not clogged or filled withwater, the backing does not become sodden or dense butietains itsability to expand sharply on each release from ironing pressure to expelthe steam, or release it, and leave the network of passages ready toreceive the steam on the next ironing pressure. Each ironing operationfrom beginning to end of a run is thus performed with equal efliciency,and. as the backing dries sufficiently between successive ironingoperations in the same run and is not subject to densification, there isno drying out in a hard thin layer between runs.

The network of passages is thus retained at all times in condition toreceive the steam and their walls, whether wet or dry, retain theirstifiness and elasticity. This is understood to be due to the presencein the wall structure of a multitude of non-fibrous particlesimpermeable to water and unafiected thereby and which give the walls thelike. character, the walls being nonfibrous, or at all events notsufficiently fibrous to swell and close or seriously obstruct thepassages and thus impede ventilation. This, al-' though in line with thepurpose of the old relatively loose or open fibrous backing to promoteventilation is a step in a direction counter to the fibrous traditionand practice of the art, which in reality obstructed eifectiveventilation.

It will be apparent also that the structure thus described and thethrowing open of the passages of the networkinsures free escapes ofsteam therefrom, its expulsion or withdrawal, and the requisitecontinuous ventilation, as well in ironing or pressing apparatus ofknown vacuum type, as

3 in apparatus not so equipped, and with the further advantage inaddition to avoidance of clogging of the passages in the backing byswelling of water-permeable fibrous walls and by stray bits of fibre, ofprotection of the vacuum line from blocking and the vacuum apparatusgenerally from defective operation or injury by the carrying overthereto of charred fibre particles detached from the backing.

A backing for the surface which supports or i presses the cloth againstthe heated element and which has passages and passage walls of thisnature may be made of sponge rubber, provided the walls be given thestiffness and elasticity necessary to enable them to press the mouths ofthe network of passages closely against the cloth being ironed toreceive the steam and to sustain without undue yielding the customaryironing pressure-and to return to place sharply on re lease of ironingpressure to fully expel the steam, or release it.

The practical application of my invention is illustrated intheaccompanying drawing, which shows more or less diagrammatically andby way of example only, typical installations of ironing and pressingmachines equipped with the hu proved backing. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a multi-roll, chest type, fiat-work ironerin which the rolls are covered with the improved backing;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section of one of therolls of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3' is a perspective view of the head an buckmembers of a press; and

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective view indicating'cellularstructure. 1

The non-metallic central layer 5 of the backing. has incorporatedtherein'an' irregular network of contractible and expansible passagescommunicating with the exterior surface of the backing to receive steamand readily and immediately accessible to all parts of the surface beingironed,

and the walls of said passages being relatively stifl. and elastic wetor dry and sumciently firm to support, without undue yielding, thepressure of the ironing operation and to expand sharply on release ofironing pressure as hereinbefore explained. The passages are preferably"cellular" in the sense already defined, and for the best results, asalready noted, the cells 6 should be relatively small and fine, thenetwork of passages opening through the outersurface as alreadyexplained and also through the back. Hence if sponge rubber respondingto the prescribed requirements is used the imperforate outer envelope orskin, if present, should be removed from both sides, as indicated in thedrawing, or suitably perforated to provide surfaceopenings for thepurpose stated.

The texture as well as-the size and thickness of the backing may bevaried according to the type of machine to which it is applied and theparticular conditions of use and one or more layers may be used asdesired. Sponge rubber of the requisite strength, firmness and structuremay be prepared in sheet form and cut therefrom or molded to therequired size; or it may be molded in curved form for use upon an ironerroll, thereby preserving a uniform body texture and preventing unequalstresses during application or use. The layer 5 which may be of spongerubber of this nature is preferably covered or dressed (at least on itsexposed side) with one or more plies of fabric 7, for example duck orsheeting. A similar ply of fabric 7' constitutes a binder be-' tween thelayer 5 and the metal body 8 of the ironing roll; although layer 5 maybe applied directly to the body 8 if desired. The use of a removabledressing or cover cloth is usual for cleanliness and smoothness, andsince such a cloth permits steam to pass through, it does not interferewith the action of the network of passages when applied thereto.

My improved backing may be used for various ironing appliances. In fiatwork ironers of the chest type indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, for example,the backing is wrapped around the body of the rolls 8 in one or moreskinless layers as desired. The rolls are mounted above a series ofsteam chests 9 having concave upper faces 10 upon which the padded rollsare pressed, or which are forced against the peripheries of the rollsunder considerable pressure. standard 120" long (in the smallest size100") each weigh approximately 725 lbs. and it is usual to furtherincrease their pressure by adjustable springs. In the standard 6 rollchest type ironers, the rolls are as-above described and the pressureper roll is about 1850 lbs., 1.4 lbs. per sq. in. (120" X 11" area ofcontact surface=l320 sq. in.) The bearing of these facts on thestiffness necessary in the backing will be apparent. The work 11 to beironed is fed .to the first roll 8 upon an apron or ribbon 12 and thencepasses between the padded surface of the rotating rolls and the heatedsurfaces 10 of the steam chests, the backing being compressed by theweight'or tensionof the roll as indicated at 13.

In a typical press shown in Fig. 3, the buck or bed 14 constitutes thebody and the backing is formed by two layers 5 and 5' of the spongerubber, both free from skin on bothsides, the upper layer being coveredwith the cloth strip '7. The swinging steam-heated head 15 is adapted tobe pressed onto the fabrics or garments placed upon the padded buck forpressing, the pressure being about 7 lbs. persquare inch regardless ofthe The rolls' which are- 1 ,o2c,eo' press area-in the case of a utilitypress" the.

total pressure being 6500 lbs., more or less, and the area approximately928 square inches. It will be understood that the press members may befiat or curved as shown, and that the backing may be fastened on thebuck in any suitable manner; also that the auxiliary elements of thepress are arranged to operate in the customary way.

Sponge rubber for this backing may be made of usual rubber mixtureaccording to known methods under appropriate pressures to produce asponge product of partially vulcanized rubber of the character statedhaving small intercommunicating pores or cells opening through thesurface. If the backing is likely to be subjected .to excessively hightemperatures in use, reagents may be added to the rubber composition, inaccordance with known practices, substantially to prevent furtheroxidation or vulcanization of the sponge rubber product.

My backing, in addition to characteristics already mentioned, provides asufficiently smooth ironing surface of uniform texture yielding enoughto receive without injury buttons, plaits,

embroidery or other uneven surfaces -of the work being ironed orpressed. It may be used in combination with other-types, such as thefiber padding or so-called spring pads of metal which are now in use;and it will be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. A

I claim:

l. Ironing apparatus comprising members between which the articles actedupon by the apparatus are subjected .to pressure and, ironed, one memberbeing a heated ironer and one having a backing for the surface whichsupports or presses the cloth against the heated element, the body ofsaid backing having incorporated therein a network of intercommunicatingpassages communicating with the said surface for the reception of steamproduced by the heat, the passages of the network opening at thepressing surface so as;to be accessible to all parts of the cloth beingironed, the walls of said passages being sufficiently elastic, whetherwet or dry, and suiiiciently firm or pressure resistant to adequatelysupport the pressure of the ironing operation and I hold the backing toits-work and to expand sharp- 137 on release of ironing pressure toprovide continuous ventilation. I

2. Ironing apparatus comprisingmembers between which the articles actedupon by the apparatus are subjected to pressure and ironed, one memberbeing a heated ironer and the other having a backing for the sin-facewhich supportsteriorsurface or the backing and readily and immediatelyaccessible to all parts of the surface being ironed and receiving thesteam at each ironing operation, said passages including connected cellportions andhaving relatively stiff walls sufilciently elastic, whetherwet or dry, and sumciently firm or pressure resistant to adequatelysupport the pressure of the ironing operation and hold the backing toits work and to expand sharply on release of ironing pressure to open upthe mouths of the passages, provide continuous ventilation and restorethe network of passages to its original state and the backing tosubstantially its original volume after each ironing operation inreadiness for the next.

3. Ironing apparatus comprising members between which the articles actedupon by the apparatus are subjected to pressure and ironed, one memberbeing a heated ironer and the other an extended support havinga backingfor the surface which supports or presses the cloth against the heatedelement, said backing having an ex terior covering of textile fabricthrough which steam produced by the heat may penetrate into the interiorof the backing, the body ofthe backing covering the face of said supportand being a vulcanized sponge rubber or equivalent artificial spongestructure pervaded with a 'network of passages including connected cellportions and opening to-the exterior surface of the backing to receivesteam at each ironing operation from the cloth being ironed and to expelthe steam at each ironing operation on release of ironing pressure, saidbody being sufliciently firm and elastic, whether wet or dry, toadequately support the pressure of the ironing operation and hold thebacking to its work and to expand sharply on release of ironing pressureto provide continuous ventilation and resume substantially its originalthickness after each ironing operation in readiness for the next.

4; Ironing apparatus comprising members between which the articles actedupon by the apparatus are subjected to pressure and ironed, one memberbeing a heated ironer and the other an extended support having a backingfor the surface which supports or presses the cloth against the heatedelement, the body of saidbacking covering the face of said support andbeing a natural or artificial rubber structure pervaded with a networkof intercommunicating passages communicating with the said surface toreceive at each ironing operation steam produced by the heat and to openup the passages at each ironing operation on release of ironingpressure, said body being sufllciently firm and elastic, whether wet -ordry, to adequately support the pressure of the ironing operation andhold the backing to its work and to expand sharp! ly'on release ofironing pressure to provide continuous ventilation, and resumesubstantially its original thickness after each ironing operation inreadiness for the next. i I v EDMOND O. DAYTON.

